Have you heard of resveratrol before? If you’re a fan of a cheeky glass of wine or two, you might already be on a first-name basis with this botanical ingredient. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant that’s just as good for you when applied to your skin as it is in a glass of wine - here’s our guide to the benefits of resveratrol for skin and how to add it to your beauty routine.

What is Resveratrol?

While the most well-known sources of resveratrol are grapes and wine, it pops up in peanuts, dark chocolate, and cacao too. Resveratrol is what’s called a polyphenol - a type of naturally occurring antioxidant that comes with a whole slew of benefits for skin. At Beauty Affairs, antioxidants are one of our favourite types of ingredients to reach for because they do so much!

Vine Vera Chianti Revival Serum | $450
A potent serum that uses the power of resveratrol and peptides to reinforce skin against the signs of ageing.

What Does Resveratrol Do for Skin?

As an antioxidant, the benefits of resveratrol for skin are many. Antioxidants are skincare ingredients that help to maintain current skin health, but at the same time are great anti-ageing skincare ingredients (especially if you’re willing to stick to using them)!

1. Protects Skin from Environmental Assault

Antioxidants contribute to healthy, younger-looking skin by warding off the effects of external stressors on skin. Common external stressors include excess UV light exposure, pollution, and smoking - each of these three releases free radicals on skin, molecules that wreak havoc and cause oxidative stress.

Resveratrol, like all antioxidants, is able to fight off these free radicals - ensuring that your skin doesn’t get any premature fine lines or wrinkles.

2. Reduces Inflammation & Redness

Many polyphenols have the added side effect of being incredibly effective at soothing red, irritated skin. Resveratrol is no exception - it can regulate inflammatory processes in skin, negating any chance of inflammaging from occurring. 

As an anti-inflammatory, it also has the potential to reduce inflammation caused by acne, soothing skin and reducing the likelihood of post-acne marks.

Vine Vera Moscato Sensitive Skin Eye Cream | $500
An eye cream rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and caffeine to revitalise the undereye area.

3. Fades Dark Marks & Hyperpigmentation

The greatest body of research behind the benefits of resveratrol for skin is on its use as a skin brightener - turns out, resveratrol is incredibly effective at fading excessive pigment deposits, aka the darker spots left behind by acne and sun damage.

Resveratrol is able to lighten existing dark spots and reduce more from forming by affecting a molecule called tyrosine - it’s the enzyme that controls melanin production in skin.

4. Improves Skin Elasticity & Reduces Appearance of Wrinkles

Studies have found that resveratrol is able to reduce the depth of wrinkles as well as improve skin elasticity, making it an effective anti-ageing skincare ingredient. It’s able to stimulate cell proliferation, ensuring that more healthy skin cells are produced for bouncier, younger skin.

Like most antioxidants, resveratrol plays well with other skincare ingredients - if you’re wondering can resveratrol be used with retinol, your answer is yes! As always, remember to delegate your retinol product for nighttime use. Unlike retinol, resveratrol can be used morning and night as part of a well-rounded skincare routine.

Vine Vera Resveratrol Vitamin C Cleanser | $200
A cleanser that uses two powerful antioxidants to deeply cleanse skin and protect it from environmental stressors. 

Now that you know all about this grape-sourced antioxidant, will you get your beauty affairs in order and add it to your skincare routine? Or if you still need some time for putting your perfect routine together, we’ve got just the thing - a skin care quiz!